Cervical Screening in the UK
Abnormal cell changes in the neck of the womb (cervix) could lead to cancer if left untreated. Cervical screening helps finding those changes while we can still treat them.
The NHS cervical screening programme invites women from ages 25 to 64 for cervical screening every 3 (up to age 49) or 5 years (50 to 64).
Since cervical screening started in the 1980s in Great Britain, rates of cervical cancer have almost halved.
Research shows that screening prevents at least 2,000 cervical cancer deaths each year.
60–80%
lower risk of being diagnosed with cervical cancer in the 5 years following the test, compared to women who haven't been screened
Women screened between the ages of 35 to 64 are thought to have
Yet, 28% of UK women did not attend their cervical screening invitation in 2016/17.
Percentage of women who respond to NHS cervical screening invitations
Overall
Ages 25–49
Ages 50–65